The Goa government has towed away a casino ship of a firm belonging to former Haryana minister Gopal Kanda,who is accused of abetting the suicide of an ex-airhostess,for failing to pay Rs 12 crore fees to authorities.

The State Ports Department recently shifted the ship from Mandovi river near Panaji to South Goa in a yard,after it was confiscated.

Officials said the ship is owned by Kandas company M/s Golden Globe Hotels Private Limited,which named the ship Casino Rio.

Kandas company had purchased the vessel from Leela Beach Resort in 2009 but could not get it operational as it did not have valid documents to procure the permission.

The ship, officials said,was almost abandoned midway in the Mandovi river channel and it was amounting to navigational hurdle for other vessels using the inland waterway.